Kirsty Findlay gets mixed up when asked (for the purposes of a little colour) where she is speaking from. “I’m in Pitlochry,” says the actor, before breaking into a laugh and adding; “No, hang on, I’m in digs in Ipswich.”

Yet the confusion is entirely understandable. Findlay is indeed in Ipswich where she’s appearing on stage each night in Footloose as Ariel. But during the day she’s on Zoom, joining in on rehearsals for the Sound of Music, which are taking place in Pitlochry.

But does this little bout of disorientation suggest her red head is set to explode at times? “Well, it’s not been that odd for me,” Findlay explains. “When we opened the summer season of Footloose in Pitlochry, I was still in rehearsal for two other shows. (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and Sense and Sensibility.) And while doing eight shows a week and then going into rehearsals is difficult, it’s fine.”

Findlay, one of Scotland’s most dynamic young actors, is fully appreciative of the chance to be cast as the likes of Carole King, Jane Austen’s Elinor and now Maria, the governess who teaches the Von Trapp children to sing - and their father, the Captain, how to love again. “I’ve been so lucky and honoured that Pitlochry have cast me in so many lead roles, and I’m so aware of the huge responsibility.”

Kirsty Findlay Kirsty Findlay (Image: Fraser Band) Did she ever imagine that one day play she’d be playing the singing nun? “Not really, because you don’t see big classic musicals produced in Scotland that often. But I was so aware of the show. My mum (June McCreadie) had actually played Liesl in the Apollo Players am-dram production as a teenager. And the first time I ever sang in public was when I was 10, at a school show and I did a Julie Andrews medley, including songs from Sound of Music.”

It was a pivotal moment in the Motherwell-born actor’s life. “This was the first time that my music teacher realised I could sing. And I must have been shy because my family had no idea either.”

From that point on Findlay believed she would become a performer, always choosing music and drama at school, signing up for singing lessons, piano lessons, theatre clubs. But was there a tough decision to be made between a career in singing and acting? “I love singing, but I don’t want to be a singer,” she explains. “And I don’t think I could ever sing (on stage) without having a character-driven story behind me.” She adds; “There are certain musicals I wouldn’t be so happy in because the story isn’t the focus.”

Kirsty Findlay is all too aware of the weight that comes with playing a real-life person. “But you don’t set out to copy anyone. You try to portray what you see on the page.” And what does she see? “The thing that flies off the page is this absolute joy Maria has for living. And she has an outpouring of love for life, people and nature, which she wants everyone else to feel.”

The real Maria wasn’t full of love for Captain Von Trapp when they married; she agreed because she loved the children. (Although she came to love him later in life and the couple had three more children.) But of course, the production doesn’t set out to relay any of that. “It can be tricky when you do too much research,” she says. “And I had a similar situation with Beautiful. Yet, you have to go with the artistic license that’s been taken with the story.” She laughs. “And I don’t think it would such a great idea for us to offer a Maria who doesn’t actually fall in love with the Captain.”

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There is little question that Kirsty Findlay will slip effortlessly into the flat, black lace-ups of the yodelling nanny. Since graduating from Napier University, she has excelled in the likes of Mull-based Islander, in which she revealed an incredible talent for voices. And in 2016, Findlay and the cast of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, (the tale of rather exuberant provincial teenage girls let loose in Edinburgh) were nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

It turns out Findlay actually attended Our Ladies High School (in Motherwell). “Casting directors for the play loved the fact I was also an Our Ladies schoolgirl.”

So how close in reality was she to her stage character? “Not too far away,” she says laughing. “I was also in the school choir and went out and got drunk with my pals.”

Now, however she’s keen to slip into the shoes of the rather better-behaved novice nun. “I can’t wait,” she says, sensing the hills invoked in the actual rehearsal rooms are set to come alive.

The Sound of Music runs from 15 Nov–22 Dec at Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Don’t Miss: Matthew Knights new play Jennie Lee

Tomorrow Is a New Day, tells the story of Lochgelly-born Lee, the miner’s daughter who became the first ever Minister for the Arts and a founder of The Open University. Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, November 12-13 and on tour in Scotland from November 1-13.